Journaling my genealogy research online seems to be the right thing to do for the future of my research rather than hiding it away in some box or drawer in my home. This blog is more of a diary of my research which expands as I go. Know that a post from last year may have more updated research in a different post. I love the discovery process which has resulted in such wonderful success in finding my roots. If you comment and are looking for a response, please leave me an email address.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

How Common - McGuire?

Just how common is the surname McGuire? Well, in most of the U.S. you do find the name in any city directory. While it may not be the most common name ever in California, we are around here. Now, let's travel back in time to Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York circa 1880. The name was certainly there. Let's cross the bridge into Brooklyn for that same time period. GOOD LORD! How many McGuire's were living in Brooklyn? Were they all related to each other? That name was pretty common at least in part of Brooklyn.

Now, I won't get into location details because I'm just not the best with the geography of Brooklyn circa 1880-1900. Let's just say there were "a lot" of people living there. Isn't that an understatement and compare it to today.

So, how lost am I on my McGuire line in New York City. And, yes, let's just pull in all of the five boroughs of New York City to make it all fair and good. I don't want to lose any ground right now but I might just get lost walking those streets. Where's the subway home?

In my past, I could probably manage to navigate lower Manhattan to the subway which would go to Jamaica and then bus it to Franklin Square. Yes, I just bypassed Brooklyn all together and often wonder if I have truly ever set foot there. I guess I've driven past/through it and been to Coney Island as a tyke. I often find great humor when comparing Jamaica, Queens to the island of Jamaica. They have so little, yet so much in common. Ocho Rios, Jamaica, v. Jamaica, Queens? I could pass on both anytime in my future and wish that I could wipe them from my past.

Back to those McGuire's, they evade me as do my Romaine's. Oh, wait a minute, that's all the same side of my family. At times the search seems dismal. I really think church records would be my only solution. That darn church in Brooklyn never did call me back. My gut tells me that trapped somewhere in their records is my family line. From St. Louis Catholic church that closed and records rolled to St. Lucy's that closed, to St. Lucy's-St. Patrick's who have all of those church records, I believe that I'd find so much of what I seek.

Can someone go there and find out for me? I don't know what else to say. It's probably a daunting task but I don't live nearby Brooklyn and am not sure when I might get there.

2 comments:

Yes, McGuires everywhere! When I was researching my Roelker line in Cincinnati, I contacted the historican for the diocese (I didn't know where to start!) and they hunted down the records for me. Is that possible in New York?

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The Essence of Genealogy

Below you will find a poem that I found in a "Birthday Book" that belonged to my Grandma. It was the book's dedication by Rev. Hugo W. Hoffmann. I think it represents some of what genealogy is all about.